MADISON, Wis. -- A kindergarten preparatory program has become a beneficiary of the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation's new company-wide commitment to help area children. The Children's Service Society of Wisconsin has received a $218,000 contribution from the foundation to help start up two local "KinderReady" programs designed to provide the necessary skills to prepare children for kindergarten.
CUNA Mutual has pledged resources to develop and implement early childhood programming that will help low-income and minority children prepare for kindergarten.
The first two KinderReady sites to be funded will be located in high-minority, low-income neighborhoods.
"When our Employee Philanthropy Team's research uncovered the troubling statistics about the gap in kindergarten readiness, especially for minority students, we knew this was an area where our resources needed to be directed, and we knew Children's Service Society of Wisconsin was the organization that could spearhead the effort," said Steve Goldberg, executive director of CUNA Mutual's Foundation.
KinderReady programming will include guided playgroup activities designed to improve child development, as well as in-home and group parenting support. The Play to Learn-style playgroups will be designed around the early learning standards established by the Madison Metropolitan School District.
